Chile copper cathode shipments plagued by rough seas, shortage of containers
SANTIAGO – Rough seas and a shortage of containers have bogged down shipments of copper cathodes from Chile, the world's largest producer of the red metal, and may continue to slow exports, according to a senior mining executive and local industry analysts.
In January, Chile's top copper shipping port at Mejillones was largely shuttered as ocean swells hammered docking facilities, making it impossible to load ships. Exports of copper concentrate and cathodes, and inputs such as sulfuric acid have all been affected, the sources said.
A senior mining company executive familiar with the situation told Reuters that the seas had calmed and that concentrate shipments were back on track.
But the source and industry analysts said the container shortage was continuing to plague cathode shipments.
"Containers are still tight, and they are very expensive," said Juan Carlos Guajardo, executive director of the consulting firm Plusmining.
The container situation has driven up freight costs in the market and put pressure on copper processing premiums in Asia, analysts said.
World top copper miner Codelco said the storm surge and swell in January had nonetheless been the bigger impediment to timely shipments, and played down the container shortage.
"The lack of containers is a factor, but it is minimal," the miner said, adding that its shipments to North America do not use containers.
In January, Codelco told Reuters the slowdown due to bad weather had lasted longer than in years past, but said it had successfully adjusted delivery plans to meet customer needs.
Chile is home to several top miners, including BHP, Anglo American, Glencore and Antofagasta Minerals.
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
